When is reality TV not a documentary, and when is a Canadian TV award show in the national interest?

These and other questions that help define Canadian broadcast license mandates and their logging requirements were answered in part this week as the CRTC revised and updated its TV program categories.

For example, the CRTC will now distinguish between category 2 (b) long-form documentaries that provide “in-depth critical analysis of a specific subject or point of view,” and documentary-style reality TV shows that, while factual, lack critical analysis.

Broadcasters told the CRTC not to create a new category 11 sub-division for documentary-style reality TV shows for fear they might lose key Canadian Media Fund backing.

But the regulator disagreed as it ruled “reality television does not need the same regulatory support as long-form documentaries and that consequently the inclusion of reality television under the same category would be inconsistent with the objective of supporting programs of national interest.”

Accordingly, the CRTC will create a new program category, 11(b), to cover “reality television.”

And while the CRTC did not deem docu-soaps and other reality TV fare as in the “national interest,” Canadian award shows like the Geminis and the Junos that celebrate homegrown talent and culture will now make it onto a separate category 11 list.

That move will allow broadcasters to put expenses for qualifying award shows towards expenditure requirements for programs of national interest.

The CRTC also updated its definition of category 4 programming to give priority to religious shows that deal “primarily with (i.e. more than 50%) religion and religious teachings,” as opposed to programming that has only a few minutes of religious content.

Another area of contention among industry players surrounds program length and advertising after the CRTC introduced criteria for 150% and 125% credits for Canadian drama broadcasts.

To qualify for the credits, the CRTC proposes programming must be at least 22 minutes in length, excluding commercials and promotions.

That measure aims to distinguish long-form documentary programming from bite-size 2 (a) programming like talk or panel shows that offer analysis and interpretation.